Oak Ridge to upgrade courtroom for $15K

The Oak Ridge Municipal Building will get some upgrades or replacement equipment to modernize the facility's courtroom.Oak Ridge City Council approved a resolution to spend $15,000 from the city's FY 2013 budget for replacement and/or upgrades to the media equipment in the courtroom.

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By Beverly Majors

Oakridger - Oak Ridge, TN

By Beverly Majors

Posted Jun. 17, 2013 at 7:45 PM

By Beverly Majors

Posted Jun. 17, 2013 at 7:45 PM

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

The Oak Ridge Municipal Building will get some upgrades or replacement equipment to modernize the facility's courtroom.

Oak Ridge City Council approved a resolution to spend $15,000 from the city's FY 2013 budget for replacement and/or upgrades to the media equipment in the courtroom.

The project has the potential to cost thousands of dollars to replace and/or upgrade equipment, Council agenda information states. "The encumbrance will allow staff to proceed with planning and purchasing without detracting monies away from other projects and needs" of the facility or city departments.

City staff completed the courtroom’s biggest media improvements in audio in 2005. After eight years, the equipment is beginning to deteriorate.

Additionally, staff has noticed areas of potential needed improvement regarding the recording of the meetings, including the need to focus more on the individuals speaking, the audience, and viewing of presentations. Modern cameras will have better potential for enhanced visuals, better angles and zooms.

The equipment upgrade resolution was part of the Council’s consent agent, which members approved without discussion.

Also on the agenda was the extension of the current “demand-responsive” transit system management contract with the East Tennessee Human Resource Agency (ETHRA) through October to put it on the same contract schedule with the Tennessee Department of Transportation operating assistance grant. which provides partial funding for the operating expenses for the city’s transit program.

Council also approved the city's participation in the East Tennessee Economic Development Agency with annual membership dues approved in the amount of $26,116.